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Golden, Colorado
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The historic City of Golden is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the eastern edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was originally named Golden City in honor of Thomas L. Golden. Golden City served as the capital of the provisional Territory of Jefferson from 1860 to 1861, and capital of the official Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867.
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The historic City of Golden is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the eastern edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was originally named Golden City in honor of Thomas L. Golden. Golden City served as the capital of the provisional Territory of Jefferson from 1860 to 1861, and capital of the official Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. In 1867, the territorial capital was moved about east to Denver City. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 17,366 in 2005.
The Colorado School of Mines, offering programs in engineering and science is located in Golden. Also there are the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Coors Brewing Company, CoorsTek, the American Mountaineering Center, and the Colorado Railroad Museum. It is the birthplace of the Jolly Rancher, a candy bought out by the Hershey Foods Corporation. Famous western showman William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody is buried nearby on Lookout Mountain.
History
Established as a gold rush town, Golden quickly became a leading economic and political center of the region, being a center of trade between the gold fields and the east, a crossroads and gateway of important roads leading to the mountains, and a center of area industry. By the close of 1860 Golden City had been popularly elected the seat of Jefferson County and was capital of the provisional Jefferson Territory. While the town lost much of its populace and leading citizenry during the American Civil War, the town persevered and became capital of the federally recognized Colorado Territory in 1862, continuing until 1867. Afterward, Golden matured and blossomed into the "Lowell of the West", a regional center of trade and industry that boasted at certain points in time three flour mills, five smelters, the first railroad into the Colorado mountains, the Coors Brewery, brick works, the only paper mill west of Missouri, clay and coal mines, and more. During the 1870s it became home to three institutions of higher education, the Colorado University Schools of which the Colorado School of Mines remains today. Golden was also home to an opera house and seven churches including Colorado's third (Methodist) church, oldest Baptist church, and first Swedish immigrant (Lutheran) church. The town was home to sizeable populations of German, Swedish, Italian and Chinese immigrants; five immigrants became mayors of Golden.
Through the latter 19th to early 20th centuries Golden maintained a small town population of around 2,500 people. Several industries faded or were destroyed by tragic events, but others flourished to continue Golden's industrial legacy including its brewing, brickmaking, clay mining and porcelain industries. Golden became even more connected through mass transit, with two trolley lines extending to Denver, while the movie theater gradually took the place of the opera house for downtown entertainment. Downtown revitalization efforts began in the 1920s with its first streetscape and ornamental lighting project and urban renewal on its north and east, anchored by new senior high and grade schools. The historic cultural tension between the city's north and south sides gradually eased, and the town successfully endured additional major economic depressions including the Silver Crash of 1893 and the Great Depression. The School of Mines gained a worldwide academic reputation, Coors rapidly came to the forefront of the national and international brewing and ceramics industries, and the city modernized with a recreation center, paved streets and more.
After World War II Golden boomed, rapidly gaining population, size and economy. In 1959 the town nearly tripled in geographic size overnight when it annexed large properties to the south including the new Magic Mountain theme park, one of the earliest entertainment attractions of its kind. A number of new subdivisions were built and public infrastructure was modernized including a new senior high school, city hall and central fire and police stations, new downtown anchors including department stores and grocery stores, several new church buildings, new county offices, and the Horizon Plan which transformed the School of Mines. The Oil Crash and near simultaneous failure of several downtown anchors placed its central business district into recession by the 1980s, and the downtown was revitalized again through various initiatives including its second streetscaping project in 1992. In 1993 the old Golden High School building was converted into the American Mountaineering Center making Golden a premier research and education hub for mountaineering. The Coors Brewery had become the largest single site brewery in the world, its Porcelain subsidiary among the foremost of its kind in the world, and Golden became home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Today Golden has a population of around 18,000 people and is home to more people and businesses of national and international influence than ever before, yet maintains a small town historic identity all its own.
Geography
Golden is located at (39.746837, -105.210911). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of . Its geographic features include North and South Table Mountains, Mount Zion, Lookout Mountain, Clear Creek, and several gulches. Mount Zion is clearly visible, with a large white M, for the Colorado School of Mines college.
Golden is mostly situated just north of Interstate 70; U.S. Highway 6 and Highway 93 connect to most of town. State Highway 470 starts in Golden. It's location near I70 and near the mountains makes it an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts who also need to earn a living in the Metro Denver area.
Golden is now regarded as a western suburb of Denver and part of the Denver Metropolitan Area. Golden and Jefferson County are home to some of the world's best mountain biking. Chimney Gulch/Windy Saddle to Apex Park is a common bike route, with several hairpin turns up the side of Mount Zion and Lookout Mountain. Many of the best trails in Jefferson County are either in or very near Golden.
Natural outdoor rock climbing is also a local pastime at the locally known North Table Mountain, with many bolted and trad routes from 5.5 to 5.13d.
Recently, as part of the Fossil Trace Golf Course in Golden, they have opened a free self-guided walking tour through some of the better preserved fossils:
Golden is scheduled to be the endpoint of the West Corridor in Denver's FasTracks commuter rail network by 2013.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,159 people, 6,877 households, and 3,913 families residing in the city. The population density was 735.3/km˛ (1,905.1/mi˛). There were 7,146 housing units at an average density of 306.2/km˛ (793.4/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 90.66% White, 1.03% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 2.99% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. 6.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,877 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 16.9% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 120.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,115, and the median income for a family was $67,414. Males had a median income of $41,822 versus $32,413 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,257. About 3.5% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Golden is a home rule municipality of the city form of statutory government in Colorado. Its government is a city council/city manager form of leadership which consists of a popularly elected Mayor elected by the entire citizenry, two Councilors each representing a District comprising one half of the city, and four Councilors each repesenting a Ward which each District is divided into two of. These seven members of the City Council are each popularly elected from their Ward/District/At Large and they serve as the governing body of the city. The Council hires and supervises the City Manager, who hires and supervises the City Staff, which handles the daily operations of the city.
Golden's current elected officials are:
- Mayor - Jacob Smith
- Councilor (District 1) - Marjorie N. Sloan
- Councilor (District 2) - Karen L. Oxman
- Councilor (Ward 1) - Mary A. Weaver
- Councilor (Ward 2) - Joseph G. Behm
- Councilor (Ward 3) - Diane L. Chesbro
- Councilor (Ward 4) - William Fisher
The current City Manager is Michael C. Bestor.
Golden was among the first municipally governed cities in Colorado and has one of the oldest continuously functioning governments in the state. To date Golden has held 89 popular elections for municipal officials since its first such election in 1860, including 83 regular elections and 6 special elections in 1860, 1879, 1882, 2005, 2006 and 2008.
Media
Newspapers
Transportation
City Streets
The main part of Golden is laid out upon a historic street grid system running on an approximately northwest-southeast axis, aligned with Clear Creek upon which the heart of the city was established. Most of these are paved streets with a total 66-foot right of way, including area for sidewalks which in older areas are often separated by a landscaped strip from the street featuring beautiful and historic trees. The only historic street in the grid not named "street" is the main thoroughfare, Washington Avenue, an 80-foot right of way featuring a downtown care streetscape with trees, planters, brick, flagstone and ornamental street lights. Golden's streets are generally numbered on the east-west streets, and named on the north-south streets, and are named after pioneers, American Indian tribes and trees. The streets of the southeasterly part of town are aligned with the Denver metropolitan street grid, which are aligned directly with the true directions of the compass, and they share the names of the Denver grid. Outlying subdivisions of Golden consist of their own, often curvilinear street systems, of various degrees of connection with the rest of the city. Golden has several main thoroughfare street connections to the east which date to the Gold Rush times, including West 44th Avenue, West 32nd Avenue and South Golden Road.
Highways
Golden has since its beginning been at a crossroads of major Colorado thoroughfares. Today Interstate 70 runs through the southern part of the city, which connects to the northern terminus of SH 470 which runs to the south. Highway 6, which turns into 6th Avenue, is a historic thoroughfare (built in 1950) which runs east-west through the southern part of the city then curves northward through the western part of Golden, ultimately arriving at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon. Highway 93, which traces its roots to the 1860s, continues north through the western part of the city from the canyon and northward towards Boulder. Highway 58 bisects Golden on an east-west route between 6th and 7th Streets, and ultimately joins to go up Clear Creek Canyon. West Colfax Avenue, the historic state Highway 40, runs on an approximately northeast-southwest route through the southern end of the city and turns westward up Mt. Vernon Canyon paralleling I-70.
Mass Transportation
The city of Golden is part of the network of the Regional Transportation District which provides bus and light rail service throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Its bus routes 16, 16L, 17, 44L and GS connect the city with other points of the Denver metropolitan area and Boulder. Currently under construction is the West Corridor of the FasTracks light rail line, which will parallel 6th Avenue into Golden to its terminal at the Jefferson County Government Center. It is a modern rendition of the historic trolley line which Golden interests spearheaded in the 1890s. Although no longer carrying passengers, Golden continues to be served by railroad transportation for cargo, and has been continuously since 1870. These lines are owned by the BNSF railroad and serve business interests in the northeastern end of the city. Within the Coors Brewery grounds it becomes the brewery's own in-house railroad. The recreational miniature gauge Rio Golden Railroad serves passengers at Heritage Square.
Airports
The closest airport to Golden is nearby Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, a general aviation air transport facility located in northeastern Jefferson County. Passenger traffic generally uses Denver International Airport in northeastern Denver. However, residents of Golden might also choose to go to Colorado Springs Airport in Colorado Springs.
Education
Golden, originally home to the second school in Colorado, is today part of the Jefferson County R-1 School District which provides public education throughout Jefferson County, Colorado. The city has three elementary schools, Mitchell, Shelton and Ralston Elementary in the foothills to the west; one middle school, Bell MIddle School; and Colorado's oldest senior high school, Golden High School. In higher education Golden features the oldest public owned institution of higher education in the state, the Colorado School of Mines, which campus lies near the heart of the city overlooking its core area.
Culture
There is an unusual variety of cultural interests for Golden residents and visitors to choose from. Golden is home to the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, which performs seasonally at Bunker Auditorium in the Green Center at the Colorado School of Mines, and has performed continuously since 1953. The city is also home to the Foothills Art Center, a nationally renowned art exhibition venue housed in a historic church. Two live theater groups are housed in Golden, including one of only two Denver metro area dinner theater groups, the Heritage Square Music Hall, which has performed since 1986; and the dramatic live theater venue of the Miners Alley Playhouse in downtown Golden, which has performed there since 2001. Golden is home to possibly the most museums per capita of any place in Colorado, including the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Colorado Railroad Museum, Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum, Golden Pioneer Museum, Astor House Hotel Museum, and the Clear Creek History Park.
Golden has several annual events which draw people from around the city and Colorado. These include Heart & Soul Month in February, two Independence Day fireworks shows sponsored by Heritage Square (since 1971) and the Golden Lions Club (since 1972), the largest event of the year in Buffalo Bill Days in late July (since 1946); the Golden Fine Arts Festival in August (since 1990), Goldenfest in September (since 1978, originally Oktoberfest), and Olde Golden Christmas (since 1972) in November to December.
The American Mountaineering Center is home to the American Alpine Club, The Colorado Mountain Club, and Outward Bound. The Henry S. Hall, Jr. American Alpine Club Library and Colorado Mountain Club Collection is the world's largest repository of mountaineering literature and is internationally known. The American Mountaineering Center is also home to the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum and hosts many programs and events each year. This premier facility and the town's location near plenty of world class rock climbing, skiing and mountaineering make Golden a center for mountaineering culture.
Sports
Golden's competitive athletics go back for well over a century and feature public school and collegiate teams and athletes. Golden High School competes in various sports in 4A competition in Colorado, and its football program dates as far back as the 1890s. The Colorado School of Mines competes primarily in NCAA Division II athletics in a variety of sports including football (dating to 1888), baseball and basketball. Clear Creek is also home to a nationally renowned kayak course, and the city is home to the American Mountaineering Center and features noteworthy rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and hang gliding opportunities in close proximity. Golden has to date generated three Major League Baseball players, four Olympic competitors and two Olympic medalists.
People of Historical Interest
Golden has had a long, rich history spanning nearly one and a half centuries, which includes many who were important in Colorado and American History.
A few people that have been born, lived, or died in the Golden area are:
- Edward L. Berthoud (1830-1910), Colorado engineer, historian, geologist
- Ward Bond (actor) briefly attended the Colorado School of Mines in the early 1920s.
- Leroy Taylor Brown, Olympic silver medalist, men's high jump, Paris 1924
- Dutch Clark (Pro football hall of fame) was the football coach at Mines in 1933.
- Adolph Coors (1847-1929), co-founder of the Adolph Coors Company
- Alexander Cummings (1810-1879), Territorial Governor of Colorado
- James Darden (Coach of original Denver Nuggets, member Colorado Sports Hall of Fame)
- William L. Douglas (Founder Douglas Shoe Company, Governor of Massachusetts)
- Douglas Fairbanks (Movie actor)
- Bill and Dorothy Harmsen (Founders of Jolly Rancher)
- Roy Hartzell (Major League Baseball utility player, St. Louis Browns, New York Highlanders/Yankees)
- Edgar Watson Howe (Author, newspaper editor)
- Albert E. Jones (Major League Baseball pitcher, Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals)
- Gertrude Kasebier (Photographic artist)
- Ron Kiefel (bicycle racer) was a student at Mines in the early 1980s.
- George M. Kimball (Stage actor, principal of Kimball's Komedy Kompany, newspaper writer)
- Arthur Lakes (Geologist and paleontologist, discoverer of Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus near Golden)
- William A. H. Loveland (Colorado railroad pioneer and industrialist)
- Grace McHugh (Movie actress)
- Chick Morrison (Movie actor)
- Frank B. Morrison (Governor of Nebraska)
- Pete Morrison (Movie actor)
- George Alexander Parks (Territorial Governor of Alaska)
- George M. Pullman (Railroad industrialist)
- Steve Reed (Major League Baseball pitcher, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles)
- George Eliphaz Spencer (Founder of Breckenridge, Colorado, Alabama Senator)
- Charles David Spivak (Founder Jewish Consumptives Relief Society)
- Robert Williamson Steele (Nebraska Territorial Senator, popularly elected Governor of provisional Jefferson Territory)
- Joseph C. Taylor (Colonel leading Philippines resistance in World War II, author of They Fought Alone)
- J.J. Thomas (Olympic bronze medalist, men's halfpipe snowboarding, Salt Lake City 2002)
- John Charles Vivian (Governor of Colorado)
- John F. Vivian (Colorado Republican leader)
- Robert H. Waterman Jr., co-author of In Search of Excellence, earned a degree in geophysics from Mines.
See also
- State of Colorado
- Colorado cities and towns
- Colorado counties
- Colorado geography
- Colorado history
- Pike's Peak Gold Rush
- Territory of Jefferson
- Territory of Colorado
- Colorado metropolitan areas
- Colorado school districts
- Jefferson County School District R-1
- Colorado state parks
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Colorado universities
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